Oxnard Man, 21, Held in Slayings

An Oxnard man linked to three homicides in Ventura County earlier this year has been arrested and faces charges that could bring the death penalty, authorities said Monday.

Prosecutors have filed three murder counts against Jose Manuel Ramirez, 21, in the deaths of an Oxnard college student and a Kern County couple who were vacationing near the beach.

Deputy Dist. Atty. William Haney said two of the counts allege that the deaths occurred during a robbery, circumstances that could draw the death penalty.

Ramirez had been scheduled for arraignment Monday. But the hearing was postponed when the defendant, seated in a wheelchair, appeared unable to respond to questioning, Haney said.

Ramirez was not represented by counsel, and his family told the court that they intended to hire a private attorney, Haney said.

The prosecutor and Judge Roland Purnell agreed to reschedule the arraignment for Thursday.

Purnell also ordered a psychological evaluation to assess Ramirez’s mental fitness, Haney said.

Law enforcement officials said they had been investigating Ramirez as a possible suspect in the three homicides that occurred over two days in April.

But investigators were unable to substantiate his involvement until recently, according to a statement released Monday by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Another suspect, Rudolfo Negrete of Oxnard, was still at large, authorities said. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his capture and conviction.

Authorities believe Ramirez and Negrete shot Daniel Campos, 21, of Oxnard in the head on April 16 and dumped his body on Hailes Road in the Oxnard Plain area.

Investigators say the pair shot and killed Cynthia Jordan, 22, and Alexander Lee Jordan, 24, the next day and took their 2002 Chevrolet Impala. Cynthia was two months pregnant with the couple’s first child, authorities said.

Their bodies were discovered later in the day in a wooded area off Potrero Road near Cal State Channel Islands.

Authorities initially believed Campos’ slaying was unrelated to the deaths of the Jordans. But physical evidence collected at the scenes and subsequent searches helped them link the crimes, officials have said.

Ramirez was arrested Nov. 9 after he arrived at a Ventura County mental health center seeking treatment, Haney said. He was taken into custody on a probation violation but was charged with the three homicides the following day, Haney said. He is being held without bail.

Sheriff’s officials did not return a call seeking comment on why an announcement of Ramirez’s arrest had not been made earlier.